SANJHI ART : Trimming out the Divinity of Lord Krishna

Sanjhi Art is the traditional craft of Braj Bhoomi, Mathura & Vrindavan, in which motifs associated with Krishna’s Leela are cut meticulously into paper with fine scissors.

In some parts of North & Northwest India, Sanjhi is a festival celebrated during Navratra by making idol of goddess & cosmic object followed by their immersion on the day of Dusshera.

According to Vaishnav theology Sanjhi was the integral part of Braj culture, it was the depiction of divine leela of Krishna in designs of Rangoli created by Radha in order to command his Love.

This art flourished during Mughal era under the syncretic rule of emperor Akbar (16th – 17th century), the glimpse of Sanjhi Art is visible in many of the Mughal Miniatures.

By and by as this craft evolved, designs of Rangoli are made on paper and then cut with finesse by the Scissor hands of Artists.

Paper on which the pattern are made can be colored or plain white, these are called Khakhas.

Grace of these paper motifs manifest the faith of the people in all the folklores of Radha – Krishna and their devotion for the deity.

Designs of Sanjhi Artforms have also found their roots in Mystic worshiping in Hinduism, Tantrism and Vajryana & Mahayana Buddhism.

Recently a revived version of this craft is displayed in an exhibition curated by Delhi Craft Council in which Artist came up with the idea of “Chaski” in which figure of lord Krishna are divided into eight part so that it can be painted into different colors.